The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-05-04
Our Washington Letter.
From Our Own Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 3, 1887

I
deartL OF news IN Washington, an utter lack
Of ANYTHING in the least sensational, when
It was announced that President Cleveland
would not accept 4 denomination IN 1883.
This was really something new, and his
closest friends believe that he means it.
From the noacomnittGl attitude Of Private
Secretary Lamont he evidently intended;
! this news should be news to him.
i reporter called q: his residence long be,
fore daylight on Saturday morning and ask
MED that the President had made declara-
ton to this effect on las: Wednesday to u
prominent Democratic Senator tron one O;
the Western States. The cautious Colonel
hasitated moment, ana taen said: The
President has not made known to me any
thing about the matter. In fact l don't know
anything about it.
If tru:hfully quoted the President said to
his Senatorial friend, .everythingI do, ev-
cry appointment l make is construed Us q
step towards securing reelection. while IN
reality 1 am counting tGe days remaining
until my release from Office, just as If We're
u prisoner n confinement" He mentioned
that ne had not expressed his feelings pub
| liclv, or to tue representatives Of the Press,
| for the simple reason tnat he felt that rct:-
ing he might say about tie matter would be
believed. He scarcely expected to be believ-
ed new by any one except his wife, but add
ed that 1t was SO nevertheless.
This is in conSonance with what another
friend Of the President who was recently
here On visit, said in regard to second
candidacy in IS. i.e believed that Ny.
Cleveland would adhere 10 his letter of &C
ceptance and reiase to be a candidate for a
second term. He was also Of the opinion
that the President would write letter to
this effect to give the public clear under
standing on the subject. And it IS not un-
likely that the puDlicity which has been
given to this alleged private conversation on
the subject will eventually provoke some
formal and public utterance from the White
House.
The episode in the East Room last week
of the gieling, babling newspaper men was
unfortunate, The President has felt COM
PEELED to protect himself, OF rather to pro-
tect his visitors from the indiynities of Ger
tain vulgar correspondents here. by with
drawing certain privileges to which ali journ-
alistic visitors to the Executive Mansion
have become accustomed The said CORES
ponoerts took a position in rear Of the Pres
ident while his tri-weekly hand-shaking to
the public was in progress last Wednesday,
and made ribeld remarks at the expense Of
the honest p&ssers-by.
There We're ABOUT three hundred of these,
and almost every one came in fora little
criticism or fuu-na'ong, which was audible
to the President. ;.t least, and of course very
annoying to him Yesterday he received
his callers in solemn state. The ill-bred
wits had been invited not to attend,
great kindness and courtesy TO the Press
which have been appreciated by its repre-
sentatires asa whole. even if they have been
abused by g few. Until president Cleve-
land invited correspondents to attend the
Diplomatic reception last winter, they coul
stand in the veStibule with tie wra ap-beare S
OF guests, but they never had any definite
social standing ct the official receptions. IN
dividual members We're invited privately
and on New Years Day correspondents were
freely admitted.
But in the classification of Washington
official life, where precedence is as much
thoaght OF, apparently, as at European
courts, where the smallest bureau or divis-
ion chief is assigned a place, as are also the
sergeants of police Of the Navy no CORES
pondert of any newspaper could, by virtue
Of his place, gain access to the White House
on occasions OF ceremony. President Clere-
land changed all this. He gave representa-
tires Of the Press definite social status
when he officially extended to them an in
vitation to the White House through the
Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk OF The
House. AS the correspondent Of the New
York San wrote at the time, That has Civ
en- the Press a status by the side Of Senators
and Representatives and the staff corps OF
the General OF the Army, who were the gild-
ed cords Of the armies of toe Continent"